Container convertible into a storage cabinet component



INTO A STORAGE CABINET COMPONENT Aug. 29, 1967 H. w. JACOBSON CONTAI NER CONVERT I BLE Filed July 15 INVEN'ZOR. HAAMEV 14 J/le'a'm United States Patent 3,338,651 CONTAINER CONVERTIBLE INTO A STORAGE CABDJET COMPONENT Harvey W. Jacobson, 90 Virginia St., Seattle, Wash. 98101 Filed July 15, 1965, Ser. No. 472,366 5 Claims. (Cl. 312240) The present invention relates to containers, and more particularly to containers that are constructed to be easily converted into a storage cabinet or a drawer therefor.

Many liquid product containers which once were made of glass, metal or paper (e.g. bleach and detergent bottles, liquid floor wax cans, milk cartons etc.) are now being made of plastic. One reason for this is that generally speaking, the use of plastic reduces the material and manufacturing costs. Another reason is that plastic containers are durable and there is less of a breakage problem with them than with glass and paper containers.

These plastic containers are disposable in the sense that the consumer pays no deposit for them, and they are not returnable. However, there is still considerable life left in them after they are emptied of their original contents. This is because the plastic material is strong, durable, and capable of withstanding much repetitious use before wearing out. Most consumers take advantage of this extra life by using such containers for holding liquid commodities which are sold in bulk, and for which the consumer must furnish a container (e.g. cleaning solvent, gasoline, etc.), or for liquid storage in general. However, in most households the need for containers for these purposes is very limited, and within a relatively short period of time the consumer finds that he has accumulated more containers than he needs for liquid storage, etc.

The principal objects of the present invention is to provide a plastic container that is especially constructed so that it can be converted from a container for liquids into one or more components of a multi-drawer storage cabinet.

The containers of the present invention are characterized essentially by side wall means including an opposite pair of ribbed side walls, the ribs of which are substantially straight, are vertically disposed when the container is upright, and are of an inwardly opening channel configuration; and a bottom portion having four side walls, a bottom, and a substantially straight, outwardly protruding lip extending along the upper edges of at least an opposite pair of the side walls of said bottom portion. The bottom portion of the container is sized so that it will fit into the confines of the wall means, with the said protruding lips thereof slidably received in the channels formed by an opposed pair ofsaid ribs. The lips are also ribs when the container is in container form. Therefore, the ribs which provide the channel-like slideways are herein termed channel ribs and the ribs which provide the drawer lips are termed lip ribs.

Preferably, the longitudinally ribbed portion of the container is formed to include a plurality of opposed pairs of channel ribs, so that when such portion is turned on its side, the channel ribs will provide slideways for several drawers. Thus, a consumer may use one container as his cabinet, and perhaps one drawer thereof, and then use the bottom portion of additional containers for the remaining drawers.

In preferred form, convertible containers according to the present invention are constructed to include a symmetrical arrangement of four, substantially equally spaced, opposed pairs of channel ribs. When the ribbed portion of the container is set on its side and used for a cabinet, only the upper three pairs of ribs are used as slideways. The bottom pair of channel ribs gives the container or cabinet its symmetrical appearance, and also gives the cabinet the feature of being invertible. Such pair of channel ribs become the top slideways when the cabinet is inverted.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is constructed to include three distinct parts-an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a bottom portion. A first recess is provided between the top and intermediate portion, and a second recess is formed between the intermediate and bottom portion. These recesses serve as cut lines, ie to mark the places where the container is to be cut for the purpose of converting it into a storage cabinet or drawer.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawings.

Referring to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container typifying the features of the present invention, with a portion of such container being cut away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken at the recessed region of the container between the top and middle portions thereof, such view showing the channel ribs by hidden lines and a set of drawers in reference; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of said container after its top has been removed, the exposed flange has been trimmed and notched, and it has been set onto one side, such view showing one drawer slid into place in the uppermost pair of .slideways, and another drawer in spaced relationship with a lower pair of channels.

Referring now more specifically to the several figures of the drawing, a container typifying the features of the present invention is shown by FIG. 1 to include a top portion 10, a middle or cabinet portion 12, and a bottom or drawer portion 14.

The particular top portion 10 that is illustrated is formed to include a handle 16, a spout 18, providing a means through which the container may be filled or emptied, and a girth rib 20 that extends in continuous fashion entirely around the lower end of the top portion 10'.

The middle portion 12 includes side wall means comprising an opposite pair of longitudinally ribbed walls interconnected by a second pair of walls which may also be ribbed, or may be left plain, as illustrated. Each longitudinal rib 22 is of an outwardly protruding, inwardly opening, channel configuration. Each rib 22 is paired with another rib 22 located directly opposite it on the other ribbed wall.

Middle portion 12 also includes a girth rib 24 that extends continuously around the container at the upper end of middle portion 12, and another girth rib 26 that extends continuously around the container at the upper end portion 12.

Bottom portion 14 is formed to include side wall means which may comprise four quadrangularly related, planar walls 28, 30, 32, 34, as illustrated, and a bottom 36 which may be flat, as illustrated. The bottom portion 14 also includes a girth rib 38 that extends in continuous fashion about the upper end of the bottom portion 14. The girth rib 38 may be exteriorly configured similar to girth ribs 20, 24, 26, but for reasons which will hereinafter become apparent, it is made slightly smaller in size than the other girth rib.

As perhaps best shown by FIG. 1, girth rib 20 may be composed of an upper flange 40, a lower flange 42, vertically spaced below it, and a web 44 that is interconnected between the outer edges of the flanges 40, 42. Girth rib 24 may be of solid construction, as illustrated. It is shown to comprise an upper surface 46, a lower surface 48, and an outer surface extending betwen the outer edges of surfaces 46, 48. 4

Proceeding down the container, the longitudinal ribs 22, as previously mentioned, are of an outwardly protruding, inwardly opening, channel configuration. Preferably four longitudinal ribs 22 are provided on each side of the middle portion 12, and they are equally spaced and symmetrically related to the longitudinal center of the middle portion 12. The inner pair of ribs 22 may be formed by side flanges 52, 54 and a web 56 interconnected between the outer edges of the flanges 52, 54. One set of these parts is referenced in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The outside ribs 22 are of the same general size and shape as the inside ribs 22, but the outer flanges thereof may be an integral part of the side walls 58, 6t

Girth rib 26 is shown to consist of an upper flange 62, a lower flange 64 vertically spaced below it, and a web 66 interconnected between the outer edges of the flanges 62, 64. As clearly illustrated, the container may be formed in such a manner that the flanges 52, 54 of the longitudinal ribs 22 merge into and form slightly rounded right angle corners with the lower surface 48 of girth rib 24 and the upper flange 62 of girth rib 26. Also, the webs 56 of longitudinal ribs 22 merge at their ends, and are substantially coplanar with, the outer surface 50 of girth rib 24 and the web 66 of girth rib 26.

The girth rib 38 is shown to be composed of an upper flange 68, a lower flange 70 vertically spaced below it, and a web 72 interconnected between the outer edges of the flanges 68, 70.

A relatively narrow, substantially vertical web 74 is interconnected between the inside edge of the lower flange 42 of girth rib 20 and an inside portion of girth rib 24. The recess formed by flange 42, rib 24 and web 74 is provided for a definite reason, hereinafter to be discussed. A similar recess is formed by the lower flange 64 of girth rib 26, the upper flange 68 of girth rib 38, and an upstanding web, similar to web '74, which web is interconnected between the respective inner edges of the flanges 64, 68.

To convert the container into a cabinet the top portion 10 is severed from the remainder of the container. This is done by inserting a sharp knife or saw blade into the upper recess and then using it for cutting through web 74. FIG. 2 is a view looking into the open upper end of middle portion 12 after the top portion 10 has been removed. The lower portion of the web 74 that is left after cutting is shown in this view. For appearances sake, the person doing the converting may trim away such lower portion 74, so as to provide the cabinet with a flat forward edge (FIG. 3). Next the portions of rib 24 that block the ends of the channels formed by the ribs 22 are cut away. The container, altered in the manner described above, is now ready to be turned onto one of its sides 58, 60 to be used as a storage cabinet.

Owing to the equal spacing and symmetrical arrangement of the ribs 22, the cabinet is invertible, and it makes no difference on which of said sides 58, 60 it is set. As clearly shown by FIG. 3, the lower sides of the girth ribs 20, 26 serve as supports for the cabinet, and the girth ribs 20, 26, 38, the bottom '36, and the longitudinal ribs 22 all contribute to give the cabinet rigidity. The channel shape interior of the upper three pairs of longitudinal ribs 22 also serve as slideways for lip portions of the drawers used with the cabinet.

The drawers are made from the bottom portions of three additional containers of the same type. As will be apparent, a knife or saw blade is inserted into the recess formed between the middle and bottom portions of such additional containers and used for cutting through the web which interconnects these parts. The drawer is then finished by cutting away that portion of the web which remains attached to the girth rib of the bottom section.

The bottom portions 14 of the containers are sized so that they will fit within the cabinet 12. Two opposite side portions of the girth rib 38 constitute outwardly protruding rims which are slidably received in a related pair of the slideways formed by the channel ribs 22.

As clearly shown by FIGS. 2 and 3, in the illustrated embodiment only the upper three pairs of ribs 22 are used as guideways for supporting the drawers. The lower pair of ribs 22 gives the container a symmetrical appearance, added rigidity, and also makes the cabinet invertible. Of course, when the cabinet is inverted the once lower and unused pair of ribs 22 become the guideways for the top drawer.

According to the invention, the container is molded in two sections from a suitable plastic, and then the two sections are seamed together at 76. Although girth rib 20 is shown to be of solid construction, it may be desirable to make it of a channel form, similar to girth rib 24, 26, 38. Alternatively, it may be desirable to make all of the girth ribs solid, and only the longitudinal ribs 22 of channel form. Also, it may be desirable to cut both the top portion 10 and the bottom portion 14 off from the container that is to be used for the cabinet 12. Then such bottom portion 14 can be trimmed and used for one of the drawers, and both ends of the cabinet may be left open, or one end thereof may be covered by a piece of any suitable type of sheet material. As a further alternative, the top portion 10 may be left attached to serve as an enclosure for the cabinet. It may be desirable to eliminate the handle from the top portion 10, and to construct such top portion 10 so that it closely resembles the illustrated form of the bottom portion 14, but so that it includes a slightly protruding or substantially flush outlet.

From the foregoing, various other forms, arrangements, alternatives and adaptations as to component detail, and manners of effecting the conversion will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention is addressed, within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container that is convertible into a storage cabinet, comprising: side wall means including an opposite pair of ribbed side walls, the ribs of which are substantially straight, are of an inwardly opening channel configuration, and are each paired with another rib on the opposite side wall; and a bottom portion having four side walls and a bottom, with at least an opposite pair of said bottom portion side walls each having a substantially straight, outwardly protruding lip extending along its upper edge, said bottom portion being sized to fit within the enclosure of said side wall means with the said lips thereof slidably received in the channels formed by an opposite pair of said ribs.

2. A container that is convertible into a storage cabinet, comprising: a top portion including an outlet opening; a middle portion with side wall means including an opposite pair of ribbed side walls, the ribs of which are substantially straight, are of an inwardly opening channel configuration, are vertically disposed when the container is upright, and are each paired with another rib on the opposite side wall; and a bottom portion having four side walls and a bottom, with at least an opposite pair of said bottom portion side walls each having a substantially straight, outwardly protruding lip extending along its upper edge, said bottom portion being sized to fit within the enclosure of the side wall means of the middle portion, with the said lips thereof slidably received in the channels formed by an opposite pair of said ribs.

3. A container for liquids or the like that is convertible into a storage cabinet or a drawer, said container comprising: a top portion including means through which the container may be filed and emptied, and an outwardly protruding girth rib extending continuously about the lower end of said top portion; a middle portion including an outwardly protruding girth rib extending continuously about both its upper and its lower ends, said middle portion also comprising side wall means including an opposite pair of longitudinally ribbed side Walls, the longitudinal ribs of which are substantially straight, are of an outwardly protruding, inwardly opening, channel configuration, are each paired with another rib -n the opposite side Wall, and each merges at its upper end into the upper girth rib of the middle portion, and at its lower end into the lower girth rib of the middle portion; a bottom portion comprising an outwardly protruding girth rib extending continuously about its upper end, said bottom portion also comprising four side walls and a bottom, and being sized to fit within the enclosure of the side wall means of said middle portion, with opposite side portions of the girth rib thereof slidably received in the channel-like interiors of an opposite pair of the said longitudinal ribs; a relatively narrow web interconnected between the top portion girth rib and the upper middle portion girth flange; and another relatively narrow web interconnected between the lower middle portion'girth rib and the bottom portion girth rib.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein the ribbed side walls each include four, symmetrically arranged, substantially equally spaced longitudinal ribs, with the depth of said bottom portion, measured between the upper surface of its girth rib and the lower surface of its bottom, being slightly less than the center to center spacing of said longitudinal ribs.

5. A container that is convertible into a storage cabinet, comprising: side wall means including an opposite pair of ribbed side walls, the ribs of which are substantially straight, are of inwardly opening channel configuration, and are each paired with another rib on the opposite side wall; and .an end portion having four side walls and an end wall, with at least an opposite pair of said end portion side walls each hiving a substantially straight, outwardly protruding lip extending along its upper edge, said end portion being sized to fit within the enclosure of said side wall means with the said lips thereof slidably received in the channels formed by an opposite pair of said ribs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,811,404 10/1957 Brooks et al 312-122 3,097,901 7/1963 Schless 31233O 3,100,576 8/1963 Frank 215-1 3,225,950 12/1965 Josephsen 215--1.5

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER THAT IS CONVERTIBLE INTO A STORAGE CABINET COMPRISING: SIDE WALL MEANS INCLUDING AN OPPOSITE PAIR OF RIBBED SIDE WALLS, THE RIBS OF WHICH ARE SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT, ARE OF AN INWARDLY OPENING CHANNEL CONFIGURATION, AND ARE EACH PAIRED WITH ANOTHER RIB ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE WALL; AND A BOTTOM PORTION HAVING FOUR SIDE WALLS AND A BOTTOM, WITH AT LEAST AN OPPOSITE PAIR OF SAID BOTTOM PORTION SIDE WALLS EACH HAVIN A SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT, OUTWARDLY PROTRUDING LIP EXTENDING ALONG ITS UPPER EDGE, SAID BOTTOM PORTION BEING SIZED TO FIT WITHIN THE ENCLOSURE OF SAID SIDE WALL MEANS WITH THE SAID LIPS THEREOF SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN THE CHANNELS FORMED BY AN OPPOSITE PAIR OF SAID RIBS. 